Brand New Replacement Ipod Touch

This is really basic. I think I know the answer anyway, but I thought I'd ask just to check. I got a brand new replacement 4th gen ipod touch today. I just brought it home and haven't done anything to it yet. This is actually my 3rd replacement. The previous one I had received from the Apple store came inside the plastic casing the same as if you were to purchase it. The one I received today still had that thin plastic peel protector around it but I just wasn't given the case it would go in. They just gave me a brand new ipod like that. My previous ipod was last backed up a few days ago in my itunes. With this new one, would I have to synch it just like a new one or would there be anyway to transfer anything that had been backed up? As I said, this is really basic but I'm not very familiar with Apple products. I just know how to use an ipod.

Also, a seperate question but since it's been a while since I last had a brand new ipod, should I be leaving it to charge or something before using it or... What exactly should I do?